How to Read IMAPS Files

This page provides information on reading the IMAPS data
sets using FITS readers written in various languages.
Basically, the raw data sets are standard primary array FITS files,
while the coadded corrected files include the corrected image
stored as a primary array,
a binary table of wavelength information, and an image extension
containing the noise filter image. (See Data Products for more details.)
Both data sets should be
readable by most FITS readers, and most FITS viewers (e.g., soaimage)
should be able to display the spectral images.

Note that in the near future, IDL software will be made available
to allow the extraction of flux versus wavelength using the coadded,
corrected files.

FTOOLS

One of the best supported, and most extensive, FITS readers is the
FTOOLS and FITSIO software library
written in C and FORTRAN by Bill Pence
from HEASARC. These programs should be able to read all
the various IMAPS data sets. The suite of programs can be built as either a
stand-alone package or as an IRAF subpackage.

IDL FITS Readers

There are a number of
FITS readers that are written using the
Interactive Data Language
(IDL)
A number of the FITS readers are included in IDL libraries that
are available for free via the WEB and run on several different
platforms. (Note however that IDL must be purchased for the local
computer). One such library is the
IUEDAC
software package, originally written for analyzing
data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite project.
The IUEDAC examples
show how to use the program IFITSRD to read the raw,
and coadded files. More information on IFITSRD
can be found in the prolog of the program.

Another widely used IDL library is the
IDL Astronomy User's Library. This library contains
astronomy-related programs donated by several projects and includes
several IDL FITS readers. Three of the FITS readers are described in the
Astronomy Library examples.
Additional documentation on all the listed IDL programs can be found
in the procedure prologs.